Target apparatus



E. C. FEY

TARGET APPARATUS May 2, 1933.

Filed Sept. 25, 1929 INVENTOR, "I fi? Patented May 2, 1933 v UNITED STA ES PA'rsarorFicE A I EDMUND G. FEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TARGET APPARATUS Application filed September 25, 1929. 7 Serial No. 395,077.

marksmanship by automatically dispensing merchandise or'the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for use with targets'embodying novel means for automatically designating the number of moving targets hit during the firing of a number of shots.

A still further object of my invention is to provide improved merchandise dispensing apparatus which is adapted for use with any type of target irrespective of whether the same be one struck by a projectile fired from a gun, or one used with electrically or mechanically controlled firing pieces wherein cartridges are not used.

Other objects more or less apparent will present themselves or will be specifically pointed out in the description to follow.

In the accompanying drawing which shows the preferred forms my invention may assume:

Figure l is a rear elevation of a target apparatus embodying one form my invention may assume, showing in detail the means employed for moving the targets, the means for designating the number of hits and the means for dispensing merchandise or the like; 7 1 -Figure 2 is a rear elevation of another form of my invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3+3 of Figure 2; and

Figure it is a rear elevation showing my invention equipped with electrically operated apparatus. 7

Referring to Figure I of the drawing the numeral 1 designates an enclosing casing a predetermined distance.

having its front side 2 provided with an elongated opening 3 through which 011601 more targets are visible to the person operating a gun, and also with a circular open ing 4: through which certain numerals designating the number of successful hits are visible. A side of the casing carries a dis penser 5 which is provided with'suitable means for positioning merchandise or the like contained therein so it is available to personsfiring'at the targets.

Secured respectively to shafts 6 and 7 which are revolvably supported inside the casing'l, are sprockets Sand 9 over which operates an endlesschain 10. The sprocket 9 is actuated through a series of conventional gears 11 by a motor 12, the latter being suitably connected to a source of electrical power. Pivotally *mounted on the chain 10 area number of separated targets 13 each having a projection 14 extending rearwardly therefrom. V

Positioned at the-end of its endless chain toward which the targets travel when in vertical or upright position is, an indicating disc 15 rotatably mounted on an axis 16, its front face being peripherally numbered consecutively as at 17. On its rear the disc carries anannular series of'spaced pins 18 I which are separated one from the other by The disc is also provided adjacent, its periphery with a weight 19 the tendency of which is to rotate the disc so as to makethe zero character visible through the opening 4 in the front side 2 when the disc holding and operating means are in released positions. Pivotally mounted on a suitable support 20' atone side of the disc 15 so as to project rearwardly therefrom into'the path of the pins 18, is a' rectangular disc rotating lever 21, the horizontal leg 22 of which overlies one endtof a lever 23 pivotally mounted on the support 20. The opposite end of the lever 23 is'positioned in the path of travel of the projections 14: of the targets 13 when thetargets have been released fromvan upstanding position. The vertical leg 24 ofthe lever is pro vided with a beveled surface 25, the forward end of which normally lies slightly without the path of travel of the pins 18. On each horizontally disposed target passing the end of lever 23, the projection 14 thereof trips the lever 23 to actuate the lever 21, forcing the beveled surface 25 thereof toward one of the pins 18 lying opposite the same, causing the pin to ride downwardly on the inclined-surface 25, thereby imparting sufficient rotation to the disc 15 to present a successive numeral 17 on the face thereof to the opening 4 in the front side of the casing. To releasably maintain the disc 15 in its rotated position, there is provided a pivoted bar 26 having an enlarged V-shaped end part which bears on two of the pins 18 and centers one of the numerals 17 immediately behind the opening 4 so the same is clearly visible. Each successive operation of the lever 21 causes one of the pins 18 to pass beneath the V-shaped end part of the bar 26, and a weight member 27 on the said end part of the bar causes thesaid end part to act on such pin to advance the same in its direction of traveluntil a succeeding pin contacts with the said end part. The disc 15, upon being rotated as aforesaid for a predetermined distance, carries a projecting pin 28 into contact with a horizontallydisposed rod 29 extending into the dispenser 5. The rod 29, upon being actuated by the projecting pin 28, causes suitable dispensing means located in the dispenser to position an article of merchandise or the like so the same is available to the person shooting at the targets. The pin 28 may be so located at any predetermined point on the periphery of the disc '15 that a certain number of targets must be knocked down before the rod 29 is intercepted to cause the merchandise to be dispensed.

The upper edge of the rod 29 is provided with a projection 30 which is adapted to engage the lower end of a pivoted lever member 31 when the said rod is moved into the dispenser by the pin 28. The upper end of'the lever member 31 is provided with a roller which. is adapted to ride upon a V-shaped depending projection 32 provided on the bar 26. Upon the movement of the rod 29 toward the dispenser 5, the projection 30 engages with lower end of the lever member 31 and causes the said lever member to pivotally move so that the roller at the upper end thereof rides upon the projection 32 of the bar 26, thereby causing the latter to be raised upwardly :to disengage the V-shaped end part thereof from contact with the pins 18. When the said V-shaped end part of the bar 26 is disengaged from contact with the pins 18, the weight 19 secured to the disc 15 moves downwardly through the force of gravity and rotates the said disc sufficiently to position the zero character behind the opening 4 in the front side of the casing 1. In order to maintain the bar 26 in an elevated position so the pins 18 of the disc do not engage with the J-shaped end part of the said bar While the disc is being rotated by the downward movement of the weight 19, I have pivotally positioned a catch member 33 so suitable engagement can be made with a pin 34 secured to the said bar 26.. When the bar is elevated the catch member 33 engages with the pin 34 and temporarily maintains the V-shaped end part" above the pins 18 of the disc. Pivotally attached to the catch member 33 at a point intermediate its ends, is a bar 35 which is suitably balanced on a projecting pin'support 36'. When the weight 19 rotates the disc in a counter clockwise direction the projecting pin 28 comes into contact with the free end of the bar 35 and moves the same in such a manner that the catch member 33 is released from engagement with the pin 34, thereby permitting the bar 26 to drop clownwardly until the V-shaped end part thereof contacts with two of the pins 18 of the disc.

When any or all of the targets 13 have been knocked down due to the striking thereof by a projectile or otherwise, they I are brought to normal upright positions by the force of gravity after they have been carried by the chain 10 to points below the sprockets 8 and 9. V

On the form shown in Figures 2 and 3, I have provided mechanism for dispensing merchandise when only a predetermined number of targets have been successively knocked down. In this form a lever member 36 provided integrally with a track. 37 is pivotally mounted above the sprocket 8. and in such a position that any one of the upstanding targets 13 may ride over the track 37 and actuate the lever member so the same raises a horizontal pivoted bar 38. The pivoted bar 38 is provided with a shaped part 39 which is adapted to engage with the pins 18 of the disc 15 to maintain the said disc in a certain position for the purpose heretofore described. The disc 15 is rotated, as described, when the projections 14; of the targets 13 trip the lever 23, but in the event any one of the targetsis missed and is left upstanding after the same reaches the track 37 of the lever member, that up-- standing target rides over the said track and causes the lever member 36' to elevate the rod 38. Upon the elevation of the rod 38, the V-shaped part 39 thereof is disengaged from contact with the pins 18 of the disc 15, thereby permitting the weight 19 to-rotate the said disc so that the character 'zero again appears visible through theopensons markmanship by dispensing merchandise to him.

In the form shown in Figure 4, I have provided electrically operated mechanism for causing the dispensing of merchandise or the like from the dispenser 5. In this form suitable wires 40 leading from a source of electricity are connected to an electrically operated device 41, an electromagnet 42, and the axis 16 of the metal disc 15. The electrically operated device 41, which is adapted to cause the dispensing of merchandise from the dispenser 5, is connected to a contact point 43 by a wire 44. The metal pin 28 of the disc upon the rotation of the said disc as described is adapted to contact with the contact point 43 to close the circuit to the device 41, thereby causing the merchandise in the dispenser 5 to become available. The electro-magnet 42 is connect-- ed by a wire 45 to a metal brush 46 which is positioned in the path of travel of the upstanding targets 13. The shaft 6 of the sprocket 8 is suitably connected to one of the wires 40 by a conductor 47, and each target, as well as the other parts of the apparatus, being constructed of metal is adapted to receive the current of electricity when the circuit thereto is closed by the contacting of a target with the brush 46. Should any of the targets remain upstanding upon reaching the brush 46,'the circuit to the electromagnet 42 is closed to energize the same, thereby causing the bar 26 to be drawn to ward the said magnet. The upward movement of the bar 26 releases the V-shaped end part thereof from contact with the pins 18 of the disc, thereby permitting the weight 19 to rotate the said disc back to its original position with the character zero appearing visible through the opening 4 in the. front side of the casing. Should all of the tan gets be knocked down during a series of shots. the metal brush is not contacted with and the pin 28 is carried by the disc to a point where it contacts with the contact point 43, thereby closing the circuit to the device 41, which is thereupon energized to dispense merchandise from the dispenser 5.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that my improved target dispensing app-iratus may be embodied in other forms than those shown and described. so for this and other apparent reasons I desire my invention included broadly within the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a target, means adapted to be actuated by the target to indicate a hit, and dispensing means adapted to be actuated by the first mentioned means for dispensing merchandise or the like.

2. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a plurality of. targetspivotally mounted on a conveyor, means adapted to be. actuated by the targets for-indicating the number of hits'made, and means 'for dispensing merchandise or the like,which said I-disp'ens1ng"means is adapted" tobe actuatedbythe first mentioned means when a. predetermined number of targets have beenahit. W p

3. .Apparatus of the kind described comprising in combination with a plurality of targets moveably mounted in a casing, the targets being adapted to change position when hit, means actuated by the targets after they are hit to indicate the number of-hits that are made and means actuated by the first mentioned means for dispensing an article. I ,4. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a plurality of targets moveably mounted on a conveyor, a disc rotatably mounted adjacent the targets, means associated with the disc and targets, whereby upon a hit of a target the disc may be rotated for a predetermineddistance, article i dispensing apparatus positioned adjacent the disc, and means carried by the disc for engaging with the dispensing apparatus.

whereby articles may be automatically dispensed upon the targets being hit.

5. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a plurality of targets mounted on a conveyor, an article dispensing means, and means associated with the targets and the dispensing meansfor automatically causing the dispensing means to operate when a Ipredetermined number of targets have been 6. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a plurality of targets moveably mounted on a conveyor, an article dispensing means, and means associated with the targets and the dispensing means for actuating the latter after a predetermined number oi targets have been successively hit.

7. In apparatus of the kind described, a plurality of targets moveably mounted on a conveyor, which said targets in-theirnormal positions are upstanding,'means actu ated by the targets for dispensing an article upon a predetermined number of targets being hit, and means actuated by any one of the upstanding targets for preventing the operation of the dispensing means.

8. In apparatus of the kind described com- 1 prising a plurality of targets moveably not hit for-returning the actuating means to its. original position. 9. In apparatus of the. class described, a plurality of normally upstanding targets; which are capable of changing position when hit, electrically operated dispensing means connected in a normally open electrical cirs cuit'; mechanism for closing the circuit to the dispensing means, and means actuated by the targets after they are hitfor operating the said mechanism.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a target-adapted to change it position when hit electrically operated dispensing means connected in a normally open electrical cir Quit, mechanism for closing the circuit; and means actuated bythe target after it" has been hit for actuating the said mechanism. In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature. 7 i

Y I EDMUND G. FEY. 

